Marijuana Featured in Union College Student Paper (The Clocktower) – What Lincoln, Nebraska Students Have on their Minds

September 30, 2009 · 3 Comments

Dear Power of Pride,

REAL STORIES AND IN-DEPTH JOURNALISM

This is just a public way of expressing our thanks to Union College, The Clocktower, and Savannah Bowers.

The student body at Union College turns to The Clocktower when we need news and views about the tough issues of our day. Not that sugar-coated PR-style chit-chat you can read on the “official” website.

CRASS INGRATITUDE

Sadly, there are some students at Union who are complaining about Savannah’s hard-hitting investigative pieces. Savannah is not paid for her work at The Clocktower, and I think she’s doing a great job of building Community at Union!

Flash

!! Your Answers!!

Dear Adventist Scholar,

JUST TALKING ABOUT STUDENT INTERESTS

The fact is, The Clocktower would not exist at all were there not local news to report and were there not a demand for news of interest mostly to people at Union College. For otherwise, people could make do with worldly newspapers like the JournalStar.

If you want to know what’s on the mind of Union College students, you need only peruse the pages of The Clocktower.

Strangely, not everyone on campus is pleased with this powerful dose of reality.

UNION COLLEGE PAPER: WHY NOT MJ?

“Firstly, was the article featured in the most recent issue regarding legalization of marijuana necessary or representative of what we believe as Christians? I left a state school that promoted a drug and alcohol-centered lifestyle.

FLOOD OF WORLDLY INFLUENCES AT ADVENTIST UNION COLLEGE (LINCOLN, NEBRASKA)

Here, I pay for and expect to not have to be exposed to such worldly influences.” “the choice to publish such an article makes evident that the writing priorities within the Clocktower staff are not Christian priorities.” (Ellen Hansen, Letter to the Editor – Is the CT Lacking Christian Priorities?, The Clocktower, 14 Nov 2008, p 7)

Would award-winning Clocktower journalist Savannah Bowers be writing about dope if the topic was totally irrelevant to the student body at Union College?

Of course not!

LINCOLN POLICE DRUG SQUAD CHECKED ALL CARS ON THE UNION CAMPUS FOR DRUGS

Might drug use be commonplace on this lovely campus? “Using dogs, Lincoln police inspected the outside of all cars on campus for drugs on Sept. 24.” (Allyssa Gleason, On-campus News Editor, Union Serious About Drug Policy, Police Inspect Cars on Campus, The Clocktower, 14 Oct 2009, p 5)

WEED DETECTED BY DOGS, BUT NOT FOUND / UNION COLLEGE STUDENTS HID THEIR STASH IN TIME

Ah, not just one or two cars. All the cars. And the dogs managed to sniff out some dope? “They found one suspicious vehicle, but no drugs were discovered.” (Gleason, supra) The dogs found a car that had contained dope, but was cleaned out in time.

COMMONPLACE

Drugs are so popular on campus that the Student Handbook devotes pages to the topic: “According to the Union College Handbook Search Policy (p. 42), “Union College retains the right to search any of its property for illegal drugs, controlled substances, alcohol or firearms“. (Gleason, supra) “Union offers a traditional Seventh-day Adventist environment, providing a strong framework for making wise spiritual decisions.” http://www.ucollege.edu/welcome

SO SWAT IS A FAMILIAR PRESENCE ON CAMPUS

And now you’re starting to figure out what kind of a campus this is. The progressive student body is often harassed with drug searches. And where there’s serious trafficking going on, there will be firearms.

Are we talking just a few .22 hunting rifles? Oh, no. This campus has much heavier action than that. So much so that the Lincoln SWAT team is regularly on campus. (Gleason, supra)

WHEN DRUG RAIDS SUCCEED

While they struck out on 24 September 2009, the Vice and Narcotics Unit is often successful when they raid the Union Campus: “The Handbook Substance Use and Abuse policy (p. 47) says, “When [illegal substances] are found in a student’s room or vehicle,
the occupants of the room
or the owner or [sic] the vehicle
will be considered to be in possession”. (Gleason, supra) Note the language. Its not “if”, but rather “when”.

“THAT KIND OF NEIGHBORHOOD”

Things are so hot that the Lincoln police has a dedicated substation for the Union College campus: “Five or six years ago, Lincoln Police set up the 3645 S. 51st St. Union College substation of the Southeast district.” (Gleason, supra)

BLOODS, CRIPS, ETC., RUN LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, DRUG RACKETS

And why was this necessary? “many street gangs that distribute marijuana also commit violent crimes in the state. These gangs include East Side Locos in Grand Island and 18th Street, Bloods, Crips, and Lomas 13 in Lincoln.” (National Drug Intelligence Center, Nebraska Drug Threat Assessment, July 2003)

WAR ZONE

Now you can understand why the Lincoln police use such heavy-duty armaments (see above).

OPEN DRUG DISTRIBUTION ON UNION COLLEGE CAMPUS

“Although marijuana is the most commonly abused illicit drug in Nebraska” (id.), there are much more dangerous drugs which are legal. And passed out like candy on the Union College campus.

“Caffeine is a bitter white crystalline xanthine that acts as a psychoactive stimulant drug”. (Caffeine, Wikipedia) “For more than 100 years the Adventist Church has recommended that people avoid caffeine and other non-medicinal drugs as part of a healthy, balanced lifestyle that includes good nutrition and exercise, as well as attention to the social and spiritual aspects of life.” (Bettina Krause, Ansel Oliver, Studies Warn Against Complacency in Coffee Drinking, Adventist News Network, 21 May 2002)

Which is why Union College, a Seventh-day Adventist institution, sells coffee to its students and staff. http://www.ucollege.edu/campus-services/union-market/food-faq

“Beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee, tea, soft drinks and energy drinks enjoy great popularity. Caffeine is the world’s most widely consumed psychoactive substance, but unlike most others, it is legal and unregulated in nearly all

SERIOUSLY ADDICTIVE DRUG

jurisdictions. In North America, 90% of adults consume caffeine daily.” (Caffeine, Wikipedia)

According to the Prophet Ellen White:

“Tea, coffee, tobacco, and alcohol we must present as sinful indulgences.” (Ellen White, Lifestyle and Activities of the Remnant, Last Day Events, p 81)

UNION COLLEGE SAYS: TRADITIONAL SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST ENVIRONMENT

“Union offers a traditional Seventh-day Adventist environment, providing a strong framework for making wise spiritual decisions.” http://www.ucollege.edu/welcome The sort of environment where harmful drugs are sold to the Adventist students, according to “DeWitt Williams, health ministries director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America, says he is not surprised by the studies’ findings.

The pervasive use of coffee in today’s society has lulled many people into thinking that caffeine is harmless, he says. But he points to a litany of adverse health problems that have long been associated with caffeine use, including: increases in the rate of irregular heartbeats; decreased blood flow to the liver; increases in cholesterol; and interference with the absorption of important minerals, such as iron. One milligram of calcium is lost for every 10 milligrams of caffeine consumed, he says, and one cup of strong coffee has 103 milligrams of caffeine.” (Bettina Krause, Ansel Oliver, Studies Warn Against Complacency in Coffee Drinking, Adventist News Network, 21 May 2002)

BUT PUSHES SINFUL INDULGENCES (PER WHITE, SUPRA) FOR THE STUDENTS

The sort of traditional Adventist environment where coffee is sold openly at Union College’s very own coffee bar called cc: beans. http://www.ucollege.edu/campus-services/union-market/food-faq

“But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” Matthew 18:6 NIV

ADVENTIST COLLEGE SELLS “THE MOST WIDELY CONSUMED DRUG IN THE WORLD”

“Caffeine is the most widely consumed drug in the world. And because coffee is a major source in the supply line, people advised to avoid caffeine because of certain medical conditions like hypertension should be aware that even decaffeinated brew can come with a kick, UF researchers report in this month’s Journal of Analytical Toxicology.” “First they purchased 10 16-ounce decaffeinated drip-brewed coffee beverages from nine national chains or local coffee houses and tested them for caffeine content. Caffeine was isolated from the coffee samples and measured by gas chromatography. Every serving but one – instant decaffeinated Folgers Coffee Crystals – contained caffeine, ranging from 8.6 milligrams to 13.9 milligrams”. (Decaffeinated Coffee Is Not Caffeine-free, Experts Say, Science Daily, 15 Oct 2006)

For many, caffeine is the entry-level drug. Its a milder stimulant. “Yet so insidious is the work of these milder stimulants that the highway to drunkenness is entered before the victim suspects his danger.” (Ellen White, Counsels for the Church, p 102)

While at least one Adventist university actively advertises “Coffee to Go”, some Adventists think there’s a difference between caffeine-sugar drinks and caffeine-coffee drinks.

ALL THE SAME

The Lord has a different counsel:

“Effects of All Caffeine Drinks.–The action of coffee and many other popular drinks is similar. The first effect is exhilarating. The nerves of the stomach are excited; these convey irritation to the brain, and this in turn is aroused to impart increased action to the heart, and short-lived energy to the entire system.” (Ellen White, Section IV – Other Stimulants and Narcotics, Temperance, p 77)

The Union College student newspaper illustrates Ms. Bowers’ outstanding article with the chart at right. Savannah Bowers points out that some drugs, like alcohol, sugar, and caffeine, are legal. In fact, Adventist colleges push sugar and caffeine. And if they’re all legal, how is MJ any different?

Sister White agrees. Whether we’re talking caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, or MJ, its all the same!

“To use drugs while continuing evil habits is certainly inconsistent, and greatly dishonors God by dishonoring the body which he has made. Yet for all this, stimulants and drugs continue to be prescribed and freely used; while the hurtful indulgences that produce the disease are not discarded. The use of tea, coffee, tobacco, opium, wine, beer, and other stimulants gives nature a false support.” (Ellen White, Chapter XXXVI. – Drugs, Healthful Living, page 247)

WHY NOT A FULL-SPECTRUM “HEALTH MINISTRY”?

Its really doesn’t make any difference. If the college is going to sell caffeine-based stimulants to the students at Union College’s very own coffee bar called cc: beans. http://www.ucollege.edu/campus-services/union-market/food-faq, they might as well stock “healing herbs” as well.

After all,

“The effect of tea and coffee, as heretofore shown, tends in the same direction as that of wine and cider, liquor and tobacco.” (Ellen White, Effects of Stimulants, Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, page 34)

Savannah Bowers has done an excellent job of pointing the bony finger of reproof at this double standard.

“Luther was God’s chosen instrument to tear off the garb of hypocrisy from the papal church and expose her corruption. He raised his voice zealously and in the power of the Holy Spirit cried out against and rebuked the existing sins of the leaders of the people.” (Ellen White, Testimonies For The Church Volume One, p 372)

Savannah Bowers is a modern-day Luther. Christians around the globe need to band together in prayer for her godly work, praying that she will proclaim the Holy Word of the Lord with boldness.

3 responses so far ↓

Matt // October 2, 2009 at 6:24 pm

Hi, i thought that this is interesting.
Patrick // October 15, 2009 at 9:11 am

I can’t help but wonder out loud exactly which Christian principles Marijuana usage contravenes. To date, there are multiple peer-reviewed studies that show marijuana prevents a host of disease including Cancer and Alzheimers. Adventists like to frame any drug user as a victim and escapist, whether that drug be heroine, pot, or prozac. While there are some downsides to marijuana usage, as a long term pot smoker who no longer uses it, I’m still not sure if there is a net gain or net loss of overall life satisfaction and/or overall net spirituality. As a person who has spent many hours hiking in the woods pondering the nature of God with an occasional puff on a joint, I can tell you pot in no way whatsoever hindered my relationship with Jesus Christ and that the consistent echoes of false 70s government propaganda do the Adventist church a genuine disservice.

Disclosure: I am the son of a Seventh Day Adventist pastor.
Doris Mccasiness Wortsie // November 19, 2009 at 5:40 pm

I agree completely with this statement marajuanna is not bad at all it may have some downsides but it also prevents even worst diseases… the government should totally legalize it.

Power of Pride